Mawkyrwat: South West Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo on Thursday expressed concern over the over-ambitious nature of men who keep on destroying fishes and other aquatic life and its rivers, and said ‘the wisdom of men always resulted in destruction’.
Speaking as the chief guest during the 2nd District Aqua Festival organised by the office of the Superintendent of Fisheries, SWKH District at Mawkyrwat Market on Thursday, Laloo said earlier when the density of the population was less, people were satisfied with the used of fishing rod only, but “now we have heard the stories of many illegal practices that have destroyed aquatic life and rivers and this was driven by the wants to get all at once.”
The DC said, “If the same wisdom was properly used for fish farming and, especially, through the trainings and interventions that we get from the Meghalaya State Aqua Culture Mission together with the wisdom that we get from our forefathers, we could improve the farming, especially for kha-saw (chocolate mahseer) which is very popular in our area”.
Laloo also counselled the people of the district, especially the youths, to take up fish farming as one of the means for livelihood. She also urged the fish farmers to sell their fishes in the market and not pet them in the ponds.
While stating that the state, as a whole, depends on Andhra Pradesh and other states for day-to-day requirements and demands, Laloo expressed hoped that the initiative taken by the department will inspire farmers to enhance productivity and promote fish farming.
Later, Laloo unveiled the plaque to mark the inauguration of the 6th Fish Feed Mill in the state and the first in the district at Nonglang village owned by Robert Samuel Lyngdoh Rngaid. She lauded the entrepreneur for setting up the mill which would benefit farmers in increasing fish production in the district, hoping that it will set an example for the youths in the district.
Laloo, during the day, also inaugurated the fish Sanctuary at Mawiawmah, Rangthong village. She also released the Mahaseer seed and other fish varieties into the Sanctuary.
She hoped that with the inauguration of another fish sanctuary, it will promote and increase fish production in the district.
